Electric vapor apparatus.



C. 0. BASTIAN. ELECTRIC VAPOR APPARATUS.- APPLIUATION 2111311133019, 1905.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

UNITED sTATns PATENT onirica.

CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEXVITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW

JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW ELECTRIC VAPOR AFPARA'J'U'S.l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1 913.

after described and particularly pointed out inthe claims, which features also singly or in` cpmbinations contribute toward the vimprovementof electric vapor vlamps ofthe character set forth in Bastian and Salisburysll. S., patent application, filed 17th August, 1903, SerialfNo.` ,100/702, and U. S. application tiledA 25th- August, 1904, `Serial lN'o. 222148. and my subsequent British patents for such lamps, Nos. 24028 of1903, 5892 ct 1004, andv 9718 of 1904, but the said imprci-'ements may be used in conjunction with other forms of electric vapor lamps or electric vapor apparatus to which the same may be applicable either Wholly or in part., Y

For the sake of brevity refer to the'tube containing the mercury and electrodes and in which the arc is formed during working as the burner andI this irrespective of Whether tbc apparatus be used for giving light or for any other purpose such as rectifying or rupturing electric circuits.

In such electric vapor apparatus l have.

found that unsteadiness and accidental eX.- tinction-A of the arc may be caused by the 'f passage through the arc of particles of un vaporized or 11n-ionized mercury or other 'matter forming the electrodes, all of which matter for the sake of brevity ll` will heres inafter refer to as mercury and I prevent this by forming the coi'itainer tube at. the upper or negative electrode of such small bore-as to ret-ainin it the unvaporized or un-ionixcd mercury, which l u'ill hereinafter refer to as liquid mcrcury. I also construct the llcat radiating surfaces and the crossscctional areas of the positive and negative electrodes in .such proportion one to the other, as tofcaus'e a. higher temperature at one 'electrode than atthe other; so that the evaporation of mercury from the one, and the condensation of mercury at the other, Will automatically compensate `for and rectify any increase or diminution of mercury, as the case may be, that may be due to that effect of the electric current, which I may conveniently describe as a. kind of electrolytic, or ionizing effect mentioned in the said prior patents. This,` automatic conipensation seems to be due to a fall, or rise, of temperature in each electrode, as the volume of mercury atv that electrode varies and the said changes in temperature seem to loe due to one lor both of two causes First, as the volume of the mercury decreases, the active electrode surface is brought, under certain conditions, into a mere effective relationship or closer proXimity with'the greater relative heat radiating surfaces. Or second, when the electrode is bulb-shaped, for example, as the volume of mercury decreases, the area, or cross-section,

of. the said active electrode surface is increased.; and hence the heat caused by the passage of the current is diminished and the temperature falls. The reverse action takes place ifthe -volume of the bulb shaped electrode is increased beyond the level ot the maximum surface for any one position. l

Now, by my present invention, I retain practically constant quantities ot' mercury.l at each electrode, and thus maintain a condition of equilibrium, vand consequently secure `a perfectly steady Working of my apparatus. Since only mercury in a `condition of vapor or in an ionized condition is permitted to pa'ss through the are path after the current has once been started, my lamps will keep constantly in operation with only a -small proportion of stea'dying resistance sutlleient to absorb about 15% of the total energy in the circuit.

' I may advantageously form the cups, or receptacles,` for containing the 'mercury at the electrodes, in the form of tubes of varying cross-section at practically right angles to the arc path. And thesaid arc stream tube may be of any desired size in crosssecsition. rthat is to say, when the burner 1s tilted to start the 'are it mayy continue in such tilted position, so that a greater or less electrode surface may be exposed according to the quantity of solid mercury the receptacles may contain at any time.

lWhen a symmetri 'al column of mercury is closely confined within e. closely sur rounded by) an exhausted glass tube of f symmetrical bore, it exhibits a very considerable amount of cohesion throughout its length, (even if held vertically or thereabout). And when it is desired to separate suoli column at any given point, it is advantageous to restrict the tube at that point, z'. e. render the column other than symmet- 1 rical at said point, or otherwise make such point thc weakest point in the column of mercury. F or instance, I may interpose a device, or piece of glass, or any' suitable material; or, draw out the glass tube at the desired point, to reduce the mercury cross- -scction, and so render that point the weakest in'the mercury column; or, l may produce this Weakest point by providing a head of mercury at such point.- y With all classes of mercury vapor lamps, or other electric vapor apparatus, it frequently happens that a small quantity of air-,-.or other gas, remains within the contain r occluded in the mercury after the lamp has been sealed, and taken 'ott' the pump; but according to this part of my present invention, I form, or arrange, in

bacl .when thecircuit is broken and pre- Venting it from sticking in the tube.

`Wlien starting two or more of these burn- -ers in parallel by the tilting method, l

find it is practically impossible to cause both arcs to strike simultaneously; which, of course, is necessary, and I, therefore, strike one arc, and then separate it, or sub-divide it, into two or more separate paths; and I mayarrange this for example, by forming the tubular container Yfshaped -with two positive electrodes and"one common negative electrode; a chamber being pro-vided at each ofthe positive ends of the burner for receiving the vsolid mercury removed from the arc' ath; and the bore of the tube may be suita ly enlarged between the point at which the arcs unite and .the negative electrode. I find it advantageous to tix the position of the negative electrode, and cause the mercury to move toward or past the passin 'operation of the burner. The electrode b positive electrode or electrodes, when the lamp is put into operation; and I maintain a constant. length of arc between the electrodes, and -cause the pressure within the arc to vary the position of the solid mercury situated in, or moved into a suitable receptacle behind the positive electrode or cleotrodes; and solid -mercury may be provided, so as to keep the quantity of solid mercury at the positive electrode constant or approximately so. v

rlhe heat radiating' surface of mercury vapor lamps or other electric vapor apparatus may be conveniently regulated by forming the glass or other envelop inclos ing, or surrounding the are', withA a con.- stant internal cross-section; but, with a thicker or thinner wall, according to whether it it desirable to provide more or less heat radiating surface.

It has been proposed to start mercury vapor apparatus by means of a shunt electro-magnet, and to leave the latter in circuit during subsequent operation;` but, I find it desirable to arrange for the pressure within the arc to automatically cut out of circuit the shunt electro-magnet, during suoli time as the lamp is in operation, and to restore the connection when the current is switched off and the pressure subsides through cooling; and I may, conveniently, effect this by causing the pressure to act on a body of mercury behind the positive elec trode as aforesaid; for example, by separating the electro-magnet circuit connection from the posit-ive electrode.

Referring to the accompanying draw ings Figure l is a diagrammatic elevational view partly in section of a burner showing the arrangement for producing differential heat radiating surfaces at kthe respective electrodes and a varying sectional area of the active electrode sur# vfaces. Fig. 2 shows another form tif-burner,

arranged as a U-shaped 'tube with an en' i largement or bulb at each end of such U-` shaped tube. Fig. 3 shows another formo-f burner arranged approximately in a circular form with an enlargement or bulb at each end of the ycircular container -tube. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section of the burnershown in Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 show different modifications in the type of burner shown in Fig. 1, as is more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now more particularly to Fig.,

1:--a, is the container tube, whlch 4'is of small bore, adapted to retain the nnvapor ized, or unlionized mercury within it by the ressure of the arc stream and surface'tenion` between said s mall tube and the mercury; or to otherwise prevent said mercury through the arc path during the 'the circuit *from b to c, and then the burner has 'been restored to the position shown in the drawings, or thereabout, the action is such thatat the starting up of the burner the mercury in the enlargement c1 will be at :about-the Ilevel shown in dotted lines at c2 and Ithe mercury at the negative electrode 'will Ibe about the level shown by the dotted lines b2.

By the action of the -electric current throughout lthe operation of the apparatus mercury will tend to be transferred from the posit-ive electrode tothe negative electrode and yconsequently the mercury will tend to accumulate at the negative electrode up to say the level indicated at b3 and simultaneously diminish at the positive electrode. As this action proceeds, eventually, the level of the mercury at the positive electrode will descend in the enlargement c*L to say the level indicated at c3, at which point, -it Will `be obvious that a larger elect-rode surface is presented than when said electrode was at the level 02,' and. consequently, the active electrode surface is 'brought the'nearer to the general body of liquid mercury in the bulb d. Therefore, an increased cooling effect on the electrode surface C3 is obtained, in addition to increasing the active electrode surface; and the heat due to the passage of the current through the mercury at this active surface is at the same time diminished. It consequently results that the temperature of this electrode falls and prevents losses by vaporization. 'As the reverse action simultaneously n be increased at one electrode, as the mere cury is transferred from that electrode; then, 1t can be made to automatically arrive at the aforesaid point of equilibrium and thereafter continue, so to operate. For example, withia burner wherein the container tube a, is of, say, three-sixteenths of an inch bore, then the enlargement c1 at the positive electrode c, may increase from three-sixteenths of an inch up to five-sixteenths of an yinch or more. By providing a similar enlargement b1 at the negati-ve electrode b, the burner is enabled to Werk with the current reversed. r

In Fig. 2, the small bore contanertube a is Shown with enlargements or bulbs e andrf practically of equal form and dimensions at cach end of such U-shaped tube. Th quantity of mercury is nadvantageously auch as to completely till or rather more than lill each enlargement c and f when the lamp is tilted, and in operation the mercury is gradually transferred from the positive electrode e, so thai the level of the surface loi the ymercury at the positive electrode gradually recedes toward or into the enlargement e, at the positive electrode, while the level of the mercury at the negative electrode f, is gradually removed fart-lier from said 4negative electrode, as indicated in the drawings, until the point is reached that the mercurv at the level f1 becomes so much hotter t an the mercury at the level e1 that the equilibrium as mentioned above is established. l

In Figs. 3 and Il the small bore container tube a is shown arranged'in a. circular form or thereabout with a positive electrode c and negative electrode f, eaohof the same size or approximately so with enla oments or bulbs e* f* located outside `'the pat i of the are stream. In this arrangement the 4mercury lies around the tube a before the lamp is started, andnormally connects the electrodes e and f, while a small bore tube may 'be used with suiicieint mercury to normally the electrode e around the circular tube to or near the electrode As the mercury diminishes at the positlve electrode c, and accumulates at or near the electrode f, the

arrangement is such that a similar action l takes place as before'described, and a vpoint ot'v equilibrium is reached at Which'the r'e-v speetive levels of the electrode surfaces remain constant or practically so throughout the operation of the burner. On the container tube a, at'about 4midway between the electrodes e and f, I arrange a small vertical tube g terminating in a bulb g1 which is in closed connection with the interior of `the said tube so that when the mercury is caused or allowedto pass around the container tube c to connect the electrodes c and f, part of said mercury will be forced up the tube g and forma small head of mercury. When the burner is tilted the capillarity of `the tubes willcause the mereury to positively divide atthe point immediately below this said small column of mercury, and thus in' l What I claim isz snrestarting the are stream `in the tube about -centrally with respect to the electrodes, and also insure the positive starting up of the.l burner in a regular manner. In themanufacture'pof these burners I find it Qadvantageous to utilize this vertical column Ag and enlargement g1 for the purpose of connecting to the 'vacuum pumps andthe subserpienty sealing off.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, Which is similar to Fig. 1 with certain modifications, the container tube a is shown straight With an enlargement b1 at the negative clec trede Z) and with a pocket c near the positive electrode c. In. place of the enlargement q1, shown in Fig. 1, the bulb (Z for I receivin the mercur is shown in aslightly different position to that of the bulb cl in Fig. l., The operation of this burner is `similar to that already fully described With reference to Fig. l, the mercury in the pocket @4 producing a coolingeifect at or near the positiveelectrode c.

Referring now to Fig. 6 :.-Instead of providing enlargements iwuch as b1 kand c1, at or near the electrodesas before described, I may obtain similar or equivalent effects by providing an enlarged surface or mass such as the swellings or thickened glass Walls b* cx, las illustrated in Fig. 9; or these swellings may be formed of other; suitable material, ory suitable portions of the surfaces may for the purpose hereinbefore described be prepared in any of the Well known ways, eitherto retard`I or to encourage radia tionof heat. In this case advantage is not necessarily taken kof increasing or diminish# ing' the active electrode surface so as to moderate the temperature.

It will be obvious that if desired, and whe're suitable, the current may be passed in reverse direction through any of the burners illustrated especially in burners constructed in the manner described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to it. Therefore, mercury displaced from one electrode, owing to the difference in electric potential between the electrodes,

can be replaced with mercury displaced in the oppos1te direction owing to the diiference 1n heat potential between the electrodes, and

by constructing the burner so as to utilize this discovery I am .thereby enabled to establish and maintain constant quantities of electrodel material at each electrode respec.

tively, Without the passage of solid mercury through the are path.

It is evident that changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not Wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

l. In a vapor lamp the combination with an anode, of a cathode chamber containing, an active fluid, said electrodes being` so relatively proportioncd that. the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode chamber bears J the saine relation to the corrcspmuiling heat dissipating capacity of thc anode that the heat generated by one of said electrodes bears to that generated at the other.

2. In a vapor lamp, the combination with an anode chamber containing an active fluid, of a cathode chamber containing an acti vc Viud, said electrodes being'so relatively proportioned that the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode chamber bears the same 1e lation to the correspondingr heat dissipating surface of the anode chamber that the heat generated at the cathode bears to that generated at the anode.

3. In a vapor lamp, the combination with an anode, of a cathode, said electrodes being so relatively proportioned that the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode bears the same relation to the corresponding heat (lissipating capacity of the anode that the heat generated at .one of said electrodes bears to that generated at the other, and means for regulating the dissipation of heat from one of said electrodes.

4. In a vapo1]a1np,ithe combination with a'n anode, of a cathode, said electrodes bcing so relatively proportioned that the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode bears the same relation to the corresponding heat dissipating capacity o f the anode that the heat generated at one of said electrodes bears to that gcneated at the other, and

y means for automatically regulating the dissipation of heat from one of said electrodes.

5. In a vapor lamp, the combination with an anode, of a cathode, said electrodes being so relativelyproportioned that the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode bears the same relation to the corresponding heat dissipating capacity of the anode that the heat generated at the cathode bears to that generated at the anode, and means for automatically regulating the dissipation of heat from the cathode.

6. In a vapor lamp, thecombination with. l

an anode, of a cathode, said electrodes being so relatively proportioned thatthe heat dissipatingcapacity of the cathode bears the same relation to the corresponding heat dissipating capacity of the anode that the heat generated at the cathode bears to that gencrated at the anode, and means controlled by the cathodic aigret action for automatically regulating the dissipation of heat from the cathode. i

7. In a vapor lamp, the combination With an anode, of a cathode chamber containing' i an active fluid, and means controlled by the an illumina-ting tube, of 'an anode chamber4 cathodic aigrct 'actionh for automatically regulatingthe dissipation o heat from the cathode. v

. 8. In a vapor lamp, ananode,.of a cathode chamber, trodes being so relatively the heat dissipating capacity 'ot the cathode bears the same relation to the corresponding heat dissipating capacity of the anode that the heat generated at the cathode bears to tat generated at the Panode, and means said elecyvherebythe heat dissipating capacity of the cathode chamber is automatically regulated .f

for changes in outside temperature. l

9. In a va or lamp, the combination with an anode, o a cathode chamber, said electrodesbeing so' relatively proportioned that' the heat dissipating capacity of the cathode bears the same relation heatdissipating capacity ot the anode that the heat generated at the cathode bears to that generated at the anode,'and means controlled by the cathodic aigret action for automatically regulating the heat dissipatf/ ing capacity of tne cathode for changes in outside temperature.

10. In a vapor lamp, the combination 'with an illuminating tube, of an anode, a cathode chamber, a narrow intermediate tube connecting the illuminating tube and the cathode chamber, an active iiuid in the cathode chamber and partially filling the intermediate tube, 'whereby the agitation ot the fiuid in the cathode chamber is varied automatically when the fluid is added to by the combination with proportioned that to the corresponding a metaliliquid insaid anode chamber, said cathode chamber and said narrow intermediate tube, the heat dissipating .surfacesyof saidl anode chamber and said4 cathodeA chamber being in proportion to the'he'ats developed therein, said narrow intermediate tube being adapted to regulatel the a "tation of the metal in said cathodecham er by the cathodc aigret-action, and thereby to regulate the heat dissipating capacity`- thereof.

13. In a vapor-lamp, the"combination with an anode, of a cathode chambercontaining -a liquid electrode, and -means forzautomati- Vcally-'regulating the heat-.dissipatmg capacity of said cathod.-A

. 14. In a vapor lamp, 'an "anode chamber containing a inlaid,l a cathodechamber containingaliquid, the chambers being soproportioned that during Working an eqmlib# rium is automatically maintained between. Vthe quantities et' liquid at' the electrodes without the passage of the liquid in liquid state between thechambers, and means for automatically maintaining this equilibrium when the outsidetemperature varies.

15. In a vapor lamp, an illuminating tube stationary when the lamp visvin operation, an anode chamber'containing mercury, a cathode chamber, containing mercury, the heat dissipating surfaces of.V the chambers being so proportioned ,that during working Aan equilibrium is automatically maintained the mercury at the.-

between the quantities 'of electrodes. y v

1 6. In a vapor lamp, an illuminating'tube stationary when the lamp is in operation, an anode chamber cathode chamber containin heat dissipating surfaces o the l'chambers being' so proportioned that during working y,

an equilibrium is automatically maintained between the quantities' of the mercury at the ycontaining mercury, 'a

mercury, the

electrodes, and ymeans for automatically maintaining said equilibrium when thegy'tig.;

side temperature varies.

'In witness'whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES ORME BASTIAN. Witnesses: f

E'. GANDER, I Faison. L. RAND. 

